Refrigeration



Nov.-23, 1943. s w ANDERSSON 2,334,803

REFRIGERATION 7 Filed Feb. 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 30 i3 5 5- INVENTOR. f3 6% m2. fimw ATTORNEY.

1943- s. w. E ANDERSSON 2,334,803

REFRIGERATION Filed Feb. 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I VENTOR f ff wwfwm fim 4mm.

Patented Nov. 23, 1943 2,334,803 REFRIGERATION Sven W. E. Andersson, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Serve], Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 20, 1940, Serial No. 319,813

1 Claim. (Cl. 236-92) My invention relates to refrigeration, and more particularly to control of refrigeration apparatus.

It is an object of 'the invention to provide an improved control device for controlling the heat supply of refrigeration apparatus operated by heat. More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide such a device which is simple and compact and in which a valve is connected .of fuel is also thermostatically controlled.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and of which Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates refrigeration apparatus of an absorption type provided with a control device embodying the invention; Fig, 2'is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the control device shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a modification of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown my improved control device in connection with an absorption refrigeration apparatus of a uniform pressure type employing a pressure equalizinggas, .and like that generally described in Patent No. 1,609,334 to von Platen and Munters. The apparatus or system includes a cooling elementor evaporator I0 disposed in an enclosed space which may form a food storage compartment of a thermally insulated refrigerator cabinet l2. A refrigerant fluid, such as ammonia, evaporates in the evaporator I0 and diffuses into an inert gas, such as hydrogen, to produce a refrigerating effect. The resulting gaseous mixture of ammonia and hydrogen flows from evaporator through conduit I4, gas heat exchanger l5, and conduit I6 into an absorber In absorber ammonia vapor is absorbed out of rich gas by a suitable liquid absorbent, such as water, theheat liberated with such absorption of ammonia vapor being transferred to a cooling medium which flows through a coil I8 surrounding the absorber I. The inert hydrogen gas is returned to evaporator l0 through conduit l9, thegas heat exchanger l5 and conduit 20; and the enriched absorption liquidis conducted through a conduit 2|, liquid heat. exchanger 22, and conduit 23 into chamber 24 of generator 25. The generator 25 is heated by a gas burner 26 which projects its flame into theforward end of a horizontal flue 2'! which extends through the generator. A suitable combustion gas is delivered from a source of supply through conduit 28, control device 29 which will be described hereinafter, and conduit 30 to the burner 26.

The heat applied to the generator causes ammonia vapor and absorption liquid in chamber 24 to pass through an opening 3| in the lower end of a small vertical conduit 32 which constitutes a vapor-lift and conducts ammonia vapor and absorption liquid to the upper part of a standpipe 33. The liberated ammonia vapor entering standpipe 33 from conduit '32, and the ammonia vapor expelled from solution instandpipe 33 and chamber 34, is liquefied in an air-cooled condenser 35. The liquefied ammonia flows from condenser 35 through conduit 36 to the evaporator I 0 to complete the refrigerating cycle. The weakened absorption liquid from which ammonia has been expelled is conducted from chamber 34 through conduit 31, liquid heat exchanger 22 and conduit 38 into the upper part of absorber A pressure vessel 39 is connected by conduits 40 and 4| to the lower part of condenser 35 and to the gas circuit, as at the absorber H, for example, sothat any hydrogen which may pass vice 29 includes a casing 42 having inlet and outlet openings 43 and 44 formed within bosses 45 and 46 to which are connected the conduits 28 and 30, respectively. A resilient diaphragm 41 is secured atits peripheral edge between thetwo parts of casing 42 to form an upper chamber 48 and a lower chamber 49, and in the lower chamber is provided a partition 53 having an orifice 5| to form a passage for flow of gas from the inlet 43 to the outlet 44.

In the lower chamber 49 and between the orifice 5| and inlet 43 is arranged a filter 52. A plug 55.

53 threadedly secured to the lower part of casing through which the tube 58'passes.

42 provides access to the lower chamber for removing and cleaning the filter 52. The lower side of partition 56 at the orifice 5| serves as a seat for a throttle valve 54 having a stem 55 secured to the diaphragm 41.

In the upper part of chamber 48 is arranged a thermal element 56. The thermal element is in the form of an expansible diaphragm which is secured to and in open communication with a hollow hub member 51. To the hollow hub member 51 is connected one end of a tube 58 having the other end thereof connected to a thermal bulb 59 arranged in thermal contact with the cooling element of the refrigeration system, as shown in Fig. l. The-hub member 51 is mounted on a resilient diaphragm 66 which is secured at its peripheral edge between the upper end of casing- 42 and a cover plate 6| having an opening The cover plate 6| is provided with an adjustment screw 62 for adjusting the position of the resilient diaphragm 60 and hence the position of the ex pansible diaphragm 56.

The expansible diaphragm 56, tube 58 and'bulb 59 constitute an expansible fluid thermostat which contains a suitable volatile fluid that increases and decreases in volume with corresponding changes of temperature. The expansible diaphragm 56' expands and contracts with an increase and decrease in volume of the volatile fluid, and these movements are transmitted to diaphragm 41 to effect control of the valve 54.

The structure in chamber 48 for transmitting movements of the expansible diaphragm 56 to the diaphragm 41 includes a relatively strong flat spring 63 having a knob 66 atone end thereof against which the expansible diaphragm 56 is adapted to bear. The spring 63 is secured to the under side of a lever 65 having an opening through which the knob 64 extends. The lever 65 is pivotally connected at one end at 66 to an inward extending projection 61 of the casing 62. The opposite end of lever 65 is provided with an adjustable screw 68 which is adapted to bear against the upper side of a lever 69 which is pivoted at 10 to a lug 1| formed within casing 62.

Between the under side of lever 69 and diaphragm 41' is disposed a coil spring 12. The lever 69 extends through an opening 13 in casing 42, and the outer end thereof is. provided with an opening to receive a screw 14 which is threadedly secured to a'projection 15 formed on the exte- 'rior of casing 42. The screw 14 is provided with an enlarged head 16 to limit the extent of downvward movement of lever 69. A second screw 11 threadedly secured to projection 15 isprovided to limit the extent of upward movement of the lever 69.

The control device 29 just described is capable of controlling valve 54 and hence the flow of gas When the cooling element I6 tends position, as described above.

referred to as a regulating or load spring. This increases the force exerted on the top side of diaphragm 41, whereby the latter moves downward against the force exerted on the under side of the diaphragm by the gas under pressure in chamber 18. When lever 69 contacts the enlarged head 16 of screw 14, the tension of load spring 12 is at a maximum and the force exerted on 'the top side of diaphragm 41 is such that valve 54 is in its full open position.

With the valve 54 in its full open position, gas flows to the burner 26 at such a rate that the heat applied to the refrigeration system is effective to heat refrigerant to its vaporization temperature or boiling point, so that refrigerant is'vaporized and expelled out of solution from absorption liquid. With the burner flame of such size that refrigerant is expelled out of solution from absorption liquid, the refrigeration system operates in the manner described above to produce a refrigerating efiect in the storage space i I.

When the cooling element It! tends to fall below the desired low temperature, the volatile fluid of the expansible fluid thermostat becomes reduced in volume and causes the expansible diaphragm 56 to contract, whereby the tension of load spring 12 is reduced arid less force is exerted on the topside of diaphragm 41. With less force exerted on the top side of diaphragm 41 the latter moves upward due to the force exerted on the under side of the diaphragm by gas under pressure in chamber 18. When the lever 66 contacts the end of screw H the valve 54 is in such a position that gas flows to the burner at a reduced rate and only heat of liquid is supplied to the refrigerant and the refrigerant is heated to a temperature below its vaporization temperature. Since refrigerant is not expelled out of absorption liquid under these conditions; the refrigerating efiect produced in the storage space H is reduced.

When the cooling element 50 again tends to rise above the desired low .temperature, the tension of load spring 12 is increased to vary the resultant force exerted on the diaphragm 41 and effect movement of valve 54 toward, its full open When the valve 54 is in, its full open position the burner 26 is operating at what may be termed a maximum flame and when the valve is closed as much as possible and in its partially open position the burner is operating at what may be termed a minimum flame.

In addition to controlling the rate of flow of gas to the burner 26 in response to temperature, the control device is operative to regulate the pressure of gas delivered to the burner. Assuming that the gas pressure in chamber 49 increases, there is a corresponding increase of gas pressure in chamber 18 so that the force exerted on the under side of-diaphragm 41 is increased. This causes an upward movement of diaphragm 41 it is secured is also moved downward. The lever 65, screw 68and lever 69 are so arranged that against the force exerted on the top side thereof by the load spring 12, thereby moving valve 54 toward its closed position and reducing the flow With less gas supplied to chamber 18 the gas pressure therein decreases, whereby the load spring 12 moves the valve 54 back to its original position. v

Assuming that the gas pressure in chamber 18 decreases, less force is exerted on the under side of diaphragm 41, and the load spring 12 becomes effective to move the valve 54 downward to increase the flow of gas through orifice 5|. With more gas supplied to chamber 18 the gas pressure valve 54 to its full open position.

noted that when the weight 82 is resting on. the

aeegeos therein increases, whereby the diaphragm 4! is moved upward against the force exerted on the top side by lead spring 12, and valve 54 is moved back to its original position. It will now be understo'odthat the control device 29 acts to maintain a substantially constant pressure of gas in chamber 18, so that the gas delivered to burner 26 is maintained substantially at a constant I PIGSSUIG.

By providing a control device of the type just described, only one valve is employed to control the flow of gas to the burner, regulate the pressure of the gas delivered to the burner, and control the maximum and minimum flame operation of the burner. With the device capable of controlling the minimum flame so that a flame' is always maintained at the burner, the necessity for fully closing the valve and providing a pilot flame by-pass gas passage is avoided. Further, by controlling the maximum flange in the device, a restriction at the burner to limit. the flow of gas is not necessary. The provision of the relatively strong flat spring 63 is desirable because any The weight 83 is of such size that it exerts a force on the top side of the diaphragm 41 which is effective to maintain valve 54 in its partially open excessive force due to abnormal expansion of the expansible diaphragm 56 is taken up by spring 63, so that the internal parts of the device are not subjected to excessive force which would tend to impair the sensitivity of or otherwise injure the device.

In the embodiment just described the control device is of the spring regulated type and provided with the regulating or load spring l2. Instead of employing a spring to exert a force on the top side of diaphragm 41, the valve 54 may be weighted to maintain it in itspartially open position and an additional weight may be added to cause the valve to move to its full open position. Such a modification is shown in Fig. 3 with partssimilar to those shown in Fig- 2 indicated by the same reference numerals. By comparing Figs. 2 and 3 it will be noted that in the latter the regulating spring 12 is omitted-and the lever 69' does not extend outside the casing 42. In Fig. 3 a coil spring 19 is connected to the outer end of lever 59' and the inward extending projection 81. The under side of lever 69 is provided with a flanged member 88 to which is loosely connected the upper end of a coil spring 8|. To the lower end of spring Si is secured a weight 82, and directly beneath the latter a weight 83 is fixed to the diaphragm 41.

The operation of the device'shown in Fig. 3 is substantially the same as that described above in connection with the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. When the cooling element l0 tends to rise above the desired low temperature and the expansible diaphragm 56 expands, lever 69' is caused to move downward against the tension of spring 19. With suflicient downward movement of lever 68' the weight 82 rests on top of the weight 83. The combined weight of weights 82 and 83 is such thata force is exerted on the top side of diaphragm 41 which is eflective to move It will be weight 83 any further downward movement of lever 69? will not disturb the fullopen position of valve 54 due to the loose connection of spring 8| to the lever 69'. In determining the total weight necessary to move the valve 54 to its full open position the weight of the spring 8| may also be included with that of the weight 82. With the sponse to temperature, the valve 54 is effectively controlled to maintain either a maximum flame or a minimum flame at the. burner 28. .The provision of the spring 8| whereby the weight 82 can be added and removed gradually'overcomes the abrupt changes that would otherwise occur and tend to produce smoking at the burner. .The sensitivity of the device will depend. of course, upon the strength of the spring 8| used. As in the embodiment first described, the device shown in the modification is also effective to regulate the pressure of the gas delivered to the burner 26.

While I have shown a resiliently supported weight which may be added to and removed from a weighted diaphragm,'it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such an arrangement may be employed to effect movement of any thermostatically controlled movable member, such as a thermostatically controlled float of a liquid fuel burner, which is operatively connected to a valve for controlling the flow of fuel to a burner. Although particular embodiments of .the improved control device have been shown and described, therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the particular arrangements set forth, and I intend in the following claim to cover all modifications which donot depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: A control device for a gas burner comprising a cylindrical casing containing a gas control valve,

-levers, a spring connected between said second lever and one side of said diaphragm, the other side of said diaphragm being subject to pressure of gas on the outlet side of said valve, the tension of said spring being varied to change the load on said diaphragm by movemen of said second lever,

said second lever projecting through an opening at the side of said casing, and adjustable stops on the outside oi. said casing for limiting movement of said second lever.

- SVEN W. E. ANDERSSON. 

